This film is based on a book by French Novelist Emile Zola and is one of a series called the Rougon-Macquart which also includes "Gervaise", "Nana" and "Au Bonheur des Dames". Now Zola was a well known leftist (commy) so you know that the film as the book is very simplistic painting a picture on one side of the "poor old workers" and on the other of the "wicked capitalist bosses" living in luxury. We all know that in reality it was not exactly that but this is the sort of thing leftist people like to hear as it gives them a reason to exist. Also the various groups of miners fight amongs themselves, some want to work others want to strike, those who want to strike try to selfishly prevent the others from going to work. In addition to that, an Anarchist subversive actually sabotages the mine, killing many of the miners in the process and then slinks away in the night. He believes in total bloodshed so the world may start again anew and couldn't care two hoots about the fate of the miners.We also see a baker attacked by the crowd hungry for bread and his private parts cut off ( totally unneccessary scene put in on purpose to shock audiences no doubt) So much for the rubbishy politics of the film !
That said, cinematographically the film is not bad - it is too long and many of the scenes are dismal - situated in a cold damp mining area in Northern France. But the quality of the acting is very Good. Depardieu and notably Miou-Miou pull off remarkable performances, and the later scenes in the flooded mine come across well when you listen to them on Home Cinema. I don't think this is the sort of film one would want to see over and over again as it is "miserable" like another one I saw called "Angela's Ashes" but it is good to have seen it once. The film ends with the mine starting up again and the miners going back to work but Depardieu is dead and Renaud leaves the area to look for work elsewhere. But the ending is not optismistic and you don't feel, after 150 minutes of film that you have got anywhere since the beginning.
In short, a dreary and politically orientated plot, but worth seeing for the actors' performances.
That said, cinematographically the film is not bad - it is too long and many of the scenes are dismal - situated in a cold damp mining area in Northern France. But the quality of the acting is very Good. Depardieu and notably Miou-Miou pull off remarkable performances, and the later scenes in the flooded mine come across well when you listen to them on Home Cinema. I don't think this is the sort of film one would want to see over and over again as it is "miserable" like another one I saw called "Angela's Ashes" but it is good to have seen it once. The film ends with the mine starting up again and the miners going back to work but Depardieu is dead and Renaud leaves the area to look for work elsewhere. But the ending is not optismistic and you don't feel, after 150 minutes of film that you have got anywhere since the beginning.
In short, a dreary and politically orientated plot, but worth seeing for the actors' performances.